Happy Holidays To All Of You Jocks and Jockettes

Morning all. I received a message a couple weeks ago from Bureaucrat, letting me know that I had reached my one year milestone. In the posting, he stated that he looked forward to seeing my next post. Ironically, I wasn’t able to really get on here since then (except to make a quick comment or two) and I feel a little guilty over that. My apologies to all and my thanks to Bureaucrat for keeping track of my LJ birthday. Very kind gesture and one that is greatly appreciated.

Since the holidays are pretty much here and all of us will soon be reflecting on the year that we are leaving behind as well as the next year that is approaching, I thought it fitting to share my thoughts of the past year today (especially since my boys are still sleeping. Long visit with them this week and they are keeping me hopping. I don’t have much “Me” time right now but I wouldn’t have it any other way.)

What has the last year brought me and how have things changed fro me since joining this site? I can honestly say that, for me, jointing LJs has been a life altering experience. I started out, just a couple of years ago, with the notion that I might make a few craft projects and tinker with wood a little. Not only was I ignorant, but I was also ignorant of my ignorance. I met a man named Jordan Straker on Facebook. Jordan posted some of his carvings on there and I was just amazed and exchanged some messages with him. While Jordan and I might not correspond frequently, I do feel a great deal of affection for the man and consider him a dear friend. He recommended this site to me and a whole new world opened.

Prior to this last year, my experience with tools have been minimal. Most hand tools felt alien to my hands. A tablesaw, drill, and miter saw made up most of my collection. While the output has not been substantial this year, I have become familiar with chisels and hand planes, routers, jointers, and planers. The lathe, which I had limited success in the past with, has become much more familiar to me thanks to the tutelage of fellow Lumberjock jockmike2. Mike has not only been a terrific mentor to me over the last year, he has also become one of my dearest of friends. He is definitely the most priceless of gifts that I have received in the last few years and I have this site and Martin to thank for that.

Mike, of course, was not the only one to extend their hand to me. I had many a bad day turn more positive thanks to the musings of Jim Bertleson and Dennis Grosen, the turnings, carvings, cutting boards, and boxes made by Bob Collins, Larry (degoose), BritBoxMaker (aka the professor), and of course Jordan. I loved checking the progress of Charles III (beginningwoodworker) as he updated us on completing his education, making items for his mother, and now just finished up on his first commissioned work. Such musings, postings, and sharings have much larger impact on the world at large than any of you realize. There are literally hundreds (thousands?) of others that I can mention here and the absence of a name is not to be taken as a slight, just efforts on my part to not make the post read like the list of names on the Vietnam Memorial.

So what is in store for me for the coming year? Definitely more efforts on my part to spend some time in the shop and exercise some of the new skills I have picked up over the last year. Things have been a little turbulent on the home and work front. I will strive to not let those things impact me and reduce the creative bursts down in the shop. I have a hundred projects on my list to do and the best way to get through that list is start at the top and complete the first :)

I wish you all a blessed holiday and great hopes for the upcoming year. My thanks to all of you that have made such a large impact in my life and made it so much richer.

David

-- There is little that is simple when it comes to making a simple box.

......and a Merry Christmas and productive New Year to you, David. By the way, how does the term “Jockers” sound instead of Jocks and Jockettes…...........just a random thought…..........hmmm

I am totally stuck in a tarball, fixing the dustcollection, the guard, and the splitter on my old Delta Contractors Saw, while needing the saw to complete the project. I had thought, innocently, that I would just do the dust collection part for now, but then ran into the problem of the back part of the guard/splitter, which would be very hard to accomodate with good dust collection. So I am making the overhead guard, with included overhead dust collection, and switching to a combo of MJ micro splitter, and a modified and much smaller splitter for tilt situations. But of course, that just touches on the subject and the issues and my usual overwrought solutions to them.

I guess I will blog on the tarball topic, a blog item is overdue.

Thanks for the inspiration, and thanks for all the fun we had this last year…........this site is not only helpful, it has been a blast, courtesy of all you fine…......er….......jockers….......(-:

Very nicely put David. I can attest to the influence of this Lumberjock community. I’m starting to enjoy being in the shop again rather than it just being work, aka trying to make a living. Reading all the wonderful testimonials from everyone on their passion for their projects and craft has made me realize that woodworking should be enjoyable and the fruits of our labor cherished.The best of Holiday Wishes to you and your family and to all LJ’s .

-- Gary; Marysville, MI...Involve your children in your projects as much as possible, the return is priceless.

Thanks for the mention, David. I’m happy to have lifted your days, you’re welcome. Happy holidays and I look forward to seeing your project posts and thank you for your support as well. Here’s hoping the future is brighter for all of us.

THANKS DAVID FOR YOUR HEARTFELT, ELOQUENT POST. YOU DO HAVE A WAY WITH WORDS. OUR FRIENDSHIP HAS ALSO BECOME A VERY DEAR AND PRECIOUS THING TO ME. YOU AND RICK (RUSTIC) COMING OVER TO LEARN THE LITTLE I KNOW ABOUT THE LATHE HAS BEEN A GREAT EXPERIENCE FOR ME ALSO. YOU HAVE KEPT ME OUT OF MY BRAIN, WHICH IS SUCH A DANGEROUS PLACE TO BE, AND BROADENED MY HORIZONS BY YOUR SUGGESTIONS ON MY SHOP, MY WORK, AND LIFE IN GENERAL. WE HAVE LAUGHED, CRIED AND SHARED OUR DEEPEST LIFE EXPERIENCES AND HAVE COME TO KNOW EACH OTHER CLOSER THAN SOME FAMILY MEMBERS. THERE WAS NO NEED TO EXPRESS YOUR FRIENDSHIP, I KNOW IT IS REAL AND OF THE BEST AND LOVING OF WHAT TWO MEN CAN FEEL FOR EACH OTHER AS BROTHERS. I AM GOING TO LOSE MY OLDER BROTHER IN THE CLOSE FUTURE, AND I KNOW I STILL HAVE YOU AS A BROTHER AND FRIEND. IT WILL MAKE THE LOSS A LOT MORE BEARABLE. YOU ARE EXPRESSING THE SENTIMENTS I’VE FELT FOR THIS SITE FOR MANY YEARS. THESE ARE LASTING AND GREAT FRIENDSHIPS WE SHARE ON THIS SITE. MERRY CHRISTMAS, CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR 1ST YEAR, AND THANKS FOR BRINGING OVER THE BOYS TO SPEND A WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS EVENING WITH YOUR FAMILY. KRIS AND I ENJOYED IT MORE THAN YOU KNOW. GOD BLESS MIKE

-- (You just have to please the man in the Mirror) Mike from Michigan -

G’day David, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, to you, your family and all Jockers (going along with Jim above) and Jockettes from the sunny land down under. I’m sure next year will be a good one for you in the shop. Catch up in the New Year.